Latch construction



July 12, 1927. J' LEDWINKA LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR: Js epfl, Eezdz/ n-z,

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Patented duly 12, 1927.

mdd?? BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

a coa- LATCH CONSTRUCTION. l

Application filed. Novembel` V2, 1926. Serial No. 145,733.

This invention relates to a latch mechanism.- More particularly it relates to a latch mechanism especially adapted for use upon the doors of closed 'automobile bodies, although, of course, it could also be used upon any other form of door.

It is well known that the aim or" automobile body builders in constructing closed bodies is to reduce as much as possible the size of the corner and door posts and to increase the width of the windows in order to procure a maximum freedom of vision from within the body. Necessarily the latch mechanism for the doors is a controlling factor in so tar as the door windows are con,

cerned, since the position of the spindlecom necting the outer operating handle with the latch bolt ordinarily limits the width of such windows.

Tn orderl to overcome this diculty it has been proposed to have these spindles circumvent the edges of the path of movement of the window pane. Several methods of accomplishing this circumvention have been described in a number of my co-pending applications.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an eiicient, practical and economical arrangement for edecting a circumvention of the edge of the window pane by the means connecting the outside operating de.

vice with the latch bolt.

Additional objects and yadvantages will become apparent from time to'time as the description proceeds.

\ In order to allow a window pane of substantially the full width of the door to be used, the invention contemplates having the means connecting the outside operator with Athe latch bolt pass transversely of the door in substantially the same vertical plane as the face of the latch casing adjacent the jamb edge of the door.

This arrangement is conveniently brought about by offsetting outwardly the bight of the latchcasing so as to form a transversely extending semi-circular portion therein, and securing in cooperative relationship thereto a separate cap member, having an offset corresponding thereto but extending in the opposite direction whereby a substantially circular bearing is formed in which the lnterconnecting or interlocking member may oscillate.

The interior of the door is provided, for purpose-s of convenience, with a remote inside latch operating means.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein l Fig. 1 shows in top plan View the latch mechanism and inside and outside operators herefor, the door being indicated in dotted mes.

Fig. 2y shows the latch mechanism in side elevation, looking toward the outside operator, the mechanism being removed from the door and the link connecting the inner operators being shown as broken away.

Fig. 3 shows in side elevation the remote inner operator, looking from line 3 3 of Fig.V 1, in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 shows in side elevation the latch mechanism and adjacent inner operator, looking from line 1C-Wl of Fig. 1, in the direction. of the arrows.

Fig. 5 shows the latch mechanism and casing in side elevation, and

Fig. 6 shows the outside operator looking from line 66 of Fig. 1, in the direction or the arrows.

The latch mechanism is adapted to be arranged within the pocket or well of an automobile door 1, indicated in Fig. 1 in dotted lin-es. It comprises an outside operator 2, a latch mechanism proper 3, and a remote inner'operator 4.

A substantially U-shaped casing having one arm 6 secured to the inside of the inner door panels, anotherarm 7 secured to the outer door panel and a bight portion 8 arranged substantially adjacentto the jamb face of the dooris adapted to support the latch mechanism. The bight portion 8 is provided with an oifset 9, semicircular in cross section, which extends transversely thereof. The purpose of this o'set portion will become apparent as the description proceeds. n

The latch mechanism proper is carried by i the arm 6 -ot the latch casing. This mechanism comprises a bolt head 10 and followerl plate 11 connected thereto. This plate is oii'set outwardly at 12 toward the latch casing, thus affording a clearance to accommodate certain elements of the mechanism to bc mentioned later. The lower side of the plate is provided with a downwardly and forwardly j irojecting portion 13 having an inclined lateral flange 14 at its end. This projection is adjacent the forward end of the plate. while in the lower edge near the rear end a notch 15 is provided. One end of the main latch spring 16 enters this notch and engages the plate to force the same forwardly to projected position. The outer end of the spring is anchored between tabs 17 and 1S struck up from the latch easing. A second plate 19. offset at 2O in a manner similar to thc follower plate, is adapted to be superimposed upon said follower so as to have a lost motion connection therewith. This is accomplished by providing the plate with elongated'slots 21 and 22 near opposite ends thereof through which project pins 'arried by the follower plate and having enlarged heads 23. It will thus be seen that the bolt head and follower plate may be moved inwardly -a distance equal to the length of the slots before such movement is transmitted to the plate 19. while on the other hand a rearward movement of the plate is transmitted to the follower plate and bolt head immediately. The plate 19 extends rearwardly from the slot 21 a short distance where the end thereof is connected with a link .24, the purpose of which will be further explained. This connection likewise constitutes a lost motion connection, since a pin 25 carried by the plate has a sliding engagement within a slot 26 formed in the end of the link. l

The follower plate is adapted to have sliding movement on the latch casing, being guided therein by the opening in the bight 8 through which the bolt head passes and by guide members 27 and 28 formed on the casing.

The inside operator et is carried by a plate 29 secured to the inner door panel at a point remote from the latch mechanism. A. cover plate 3() is secured to the plate 29 but is spaced therefrom. A spindle 31, adapted to have an ojierating' handle (not shown) on its inner end, is rotatably carried in an opening formed in the inner door panel and the plate 29. The end of this spindle within the pocket or well of the door is squared to receive a connecting follower member 32. This end projects through the cover plate and has a nut or other fastening member arranged thereon. The lower end of the connccting member has a pin lil extendin.,r through a slot lll: in the end of thc link 2t, opposite to the slot 2G. lli. nut 535 is secured on the end of this pin. The description an@ drawings clearly disclose the construction, showing' that the link 2l is connected at its opposite ends with lost motion connections.

A spring 36, havingone end secured to the cover plate 30 and the other end bearing against the follower memberr 32 tends to maintain the parts in their normal relation.

lt is thus apparent that rotation of the spindle 31, so as to cause the member 32 and link 24 to move toward the hinged edge of the door, will correspondingly move the plate 19, follower plate 11 and bolt head 10, thus retractingl the latch bolt. Also, it is clear that upon the inner operating' handle being released, the springs 16 and 36 will return the parts to their normal position. Further. it will also bc readily understood that closing movement of thedoor will cam the bolthead inwardly, because of its beveled nose, and that this movement will be independent of the plate 19, link 24. and member 32, duc to the lost motion connections therebetween.

Ithas been j n'eviouslj,T brought out that the bight portion 8 of the latch casing is provided with a transverse outwardly olfsct part 9, substantially scmicircular in crosssection. This otl'set part is adapted to receive a yoke member 37, indicated generally in Fig'. After the yoke member has been arranged within the offset part a cap member 38 is secured to the bight portion in complementary relationship with the oll'sct 9. This member has attaching flanges 39 and 10, which may be secured to the latch casing by means of rivets, screws, or other suitable securing` members. It will be readily seen that the parts 9 and 3S form a substantially cylindrical bearingl tor the yoke 37, the part of which passes therethrough lying approximately within the plane of the bight portion of the latch casing.

The yoke 37 comprises a central part l1, adapted to be received within the bearing above described, and arms 42 and L13 extending inwardly from opposite ends of the part 41. These arms pass .inwardly into the latch casing through openings provided in the face of the bight portion. The arm 42 is arranged adjacent, the outside of the door and is adapted to be connected with the outside operating means.

The outside operator2 comprises a spindle rotatably mounted in bearings formed by openings in the outside door panel, plate of the latch casing, and ina cover plate 15 secured upon the plate T. The outer end of the spindle is provided with an operatiingr handle (not shown). illounted upon this spindle for rotation therewith is an arm 4G. This arm is connected to a link member sii', which in turn is connected to the arm t2 olt the yoke. A. .spring lh. ha viney one end beariup` against the rear edtnol' thc arm l-( and the other end anchorid between lugs t9 and 59 struck up from plate l'. maintains the parts of the outside operator in their normal posit-ion.

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Lesage? a sin le or integral member will thus be g n v rotated in its bearings, whereupon arm 43 will swing downwardly so that the inclined edge 52 of the head portion 51 thereof will exert a wiping or camming action upon the flange 14 thus effecting retraction of the bolt. The spring 48 should be of such tension that it will, of itself, return the parts to normal position upon release of the outside operating handle.

In order that the latch lbolt may be secured from the inside against operation from the outside, the following mechanism is used.

A locking or clogging lever indicated generally as 53 is slidably mountedjon the arm 6 of the latch casing beneath the offset 12 of the follower plate 11. This lever-is guided in its vertical sliding movement by a pin 54 and slot 55. The slot may be located in the lever or in the arm 6, as desired, and, of course, the pin would be inversely located. A bowed spring 56 is also mounted on the pin and engages the under side of alatch casing cover plate to hold the lever against rattling. An outwardly extending portion 57 is provided on the lever approximately in line with the pin, and this portion has a lateral flange 58 which is also adapted to bear against the latch casing cover plate. The lever extends downwardly `beneath the offset portion of the follower plate being gradually inclined forwardly until near the end thereof where it is provided with a portion 59 lying at approximately a right angle to the vertical portion. The end of this portion is slightly odset inwardly as indicated at 60. The lever in its vertical extent has, near the lower end thereof, a punched out protuberance 61. while the plate 6 is provided with a pair of spaced recesses 62 cooperating with said protuberance. The upper end of the lever is provided with a laterally bent portion 63, which is tapped or otherwise arranged to receive an operating stem which projects above the well or window pocket. When it is desired to dog the bolt against operation from the outside the lever is pushed downwardly the limit of the slot 55. when the protnberance 61 will be snapped by the action of the spring 56 into the lower of the recesses 62. The inwardly offset part of the lower portion of the lever will then be behind a p-art of the head 51 of the arm 43, and movement of said arm and consequently the outside operator will be prevented. ln'order torelease the clogging means the lever is pulled upwardly the extent of the slot until the protuberance engages the upper of the recesses, at which time the part 60 will lie behind the -follower plat-e in the offset portion, thus giving freedo-m of movement-to the outside operating means.

The foregoing description has set forth v a latch mechanism construction particularly vadapted to be used on that type of automobile door having asliding window of substantially the full width of the door. The interlockingor interconnecting means 'passing transversely of the door in substantially the same plane as the bight portion of the latch casing, which is adjacent tothe jamb face of the door, gives ample space in which vto mount a window substantially of the full width of the door. The bearing for the interlocking means is readily formed by stamping operations and is capable of quick and accurate assembly. The other details of the construction present certain refinements of latch mechanisms with which it is necessary at the present time to equip automobile bodies.

The invention, although illust-rated by ay single embodiment, is capable of other em` bodiments and is only limited by the scope of the :appended claims.

Claims:

1. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have a window of substantially the full width of the door slidably arranged therein, comprising inside and outside latch operating devices carried upon opposite sides of the door, and an interlocking member between said devices extending transversely of the door in a two part bearing member and lying substantially in the -plane of theI bight portion of the latch casing.

2. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have a window of substantially the full width of the door slidably arranged therein comprising a latch casing, inside and outside latch operating devices carried upon opposite sides of the door, and an interlocking 'member between said devices, said latch easing being offset outwardly to form withv a cap member a transversely extending bearing for the interlocking member lying substantially in the plane of the bight portion.

3. A latch mechanism for an automobile Vdoor adapted to have a window of substansite direction secured to said biglit portion 1n cooperative relation with Said outward otlset, whereby a bearing is formed to accommodate an interlocking member betweeir outside and ineide latch operating` devices.

it. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have a window of Asubstantiall)v the full width ot the door slidably arranged therein comprising' inside and outside latch operatiner dcficea carried upon opposite sides of the door, a latch Casing haringl a bearing extendingtransversely of the door it'ormed partly by an otliset portion o t the casing and partly by a separable inember, and a yoke member, the Central partof which is carried by said bearineY while the arms extend into the camine' upon opposite sides oi the window for operati\f'ely connectingthe outside operator with the latch bolt.

5. A latch mechanism 4for an automobile door adapted to have a Window of substantially the full width of the door Slidabl)y ar- 'anged therein comprisinga latch easing haring a portion thereof adapted to be adiaccnt the jamb 'tace ot the door, aid portion being offset outwardly transversely ot the door, a cap member secured to Said casing at the otlset to `form a bearing, insidi and outside latch operating' devicce carried upon opposite side@ of the door, and an interlockin cl member between said devices carried by said'bcaring, whereby the Same will lic subn stant'iall \v in the plane ot' thc latch casing.

In testimony whereof he hereunto atiixcfa his; signature. K

J SEll'l LED W l N KA. 

